DOCSLIB.ORG

Change in Germany Between …? (6)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

45 min exam 5 questions 1) Describe the … (5 marks) Germany 2) How far did …change in Germany between …? (6) 3) Arrange the …in order of their significance in … 1919- Germany after the ... Explain your choices. (9) 4) Explain why …different for 1991 … Germans after ... (8) 5) How important was …in Hitler`s …between …? (12) 1 Pages 3- 11 Pages 13- 20 Pages 21- 28 Pages 29- 37 Pages 38- 46 Pages 47- 54 Pages 55- 62 2 KEYWORDS Reparations Money which Germany Key Qu- 1 had to pay the Allies from How successful were the 1921 League of Nations Organisation to keep the Weimar government in peace in the world Weimar constitution The new democratic dealing with Germany’s government of Germany problems between 1919- Spartacist Uprising Communist revolt against 1933? the Weimar government Kapp putsch Right-wing revolt against the Weimar government You need to know about: Freikorps Ex-servicemen from WW1 • Impact of WW1 p4 Gustav Stresemann Chancellor of Germany • Terms of the Treaty of Versailles p4 1923 • The Weimar Republic p5 Foreign minister 1923-29 • Opposition to the Republic p6 Dawes Plan 1924- $800m gold marks • Economic/political/ foreign reform lent to Germany under Stresemann p7-8 Hyperinflation When the prices of goods rise significantly above wages 3 KEY QUESTION 1- How successful were the Weimar government in dealing with Germany’s problems between 1919-1933? Impact of WW1 on Treaty of Versailles (28 June 1919) War Guilt clause 231: Germany accepted blame for ‘causing all the loss Germany and damage’ of the war. • Naval mutiny at Kiel and violent protests over Army: 100,000/no submarines/no aeroplanes/6 battleships/No military Germany led to Kaiser’s abdication. allowed in Rhineland • The Kaiser’s government had collapsed. Republic now Reparations: £6,600 million – in yearly payments as compensation, set up. extended by the Young Plan 1929 • Over 2 million Germans had died. Germany lost land- Alsace-Lorraine to France/Saar to • Germany was close to bankruptcy. France (15 years)/West Prussia and Upper Silesia to Poland/Danzig a ‘free • Serious food shortages. city’/German colonies became ‘mandates’ of the League of Nations. • Serious political divisions League of Nations set up. between left and right Extra points- forbidden to unite with Austria. Estonia/Latvia and Lithuania to be independent states. Political impact of Treaty of Versailles • New republic blamed for signing the humiliating ‘Treaty’. Couldn’t shake off ‘stab in the back’ propaganda from right-wing groups. • Germans felt bitter resentment to new republic. Army leaders blamed the government ‘November Criminals’ for signing armistice. Economic impact of the Treaty of Versailles • Huge debt after the war. Lost industrial areas after the Treaty so struggled A German cartoon published in 1919. The German mother is saying to her to pay reparations. starving child: ‘When we have paid one • Government preferred to borrow money instead of raising taxes so printed hundred billion marks then I can give you something to eat.’ more money. Led to currency declining in value but prices of good going up. • 1923- Germany missed a reparations payment- Ruhr crisis and 4 hyperinflation. KEY QUESTION 1- How successful were the Weimar government in dealing with Germany’s problems between 1919-1933? What was the Weimar republic? Article 48 President Elect can rule every 7 without years Parliament All men and women over 20 could vote Proportional Representation or ‘One person one vote’ meant that all Germans could vote in elections for their leaders. The country was so divided that this led to many small parties getting support, some had to try and work together in a coalition government to run the country– this led to arguments and slow decisions. 5 KEY QUESTION 1- How successful were the Weimar government in dealing with Germany’s problems between 1919-1933? OPPOSITION TO THE WEIMAR GOVERNMENT 3 political ideas affected Germany after 1918 SPARTACIST UPRISING 1919 COMMUNISM DEMOCRACY NATIONALISM •In Jan 1919, 50,000 Spartacists rebelled in Berlin, led by the Communists Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht and tried to set up a Soviet form of government. Nationalists believed Communism believed •The rebellion was put down quickly by the that Germany needed that: workers should a strong leader to army and the Freikorps in bitter street fighting control businesses return Germany to and government using and both sides suffered losses. the powerful position violence and • Uprising badly planned. Leaders captured it had before world revolution if and shot. War One. necessary. Communist groups had different They hated names in different Democracy and the MUNICH PUTSCH 1923 countries in Russia, Weimar Republic, they • Hitler and 600 stormtroopers burst into a meeting by they were called believed it made Bolsheviks. Germany weak. Kahr (leader of Bavaria). Waving a gun at them, Hitler forced them to agree to rebel - and then let them go home. • SA took over the army headquarters and the offices KAPP PUTSCH 1920 of the local newspaper. • 12,000 Freikorps (ex-army) led by • Next day, 9 November 1923, Hitler and his 3,000 Wolfgang Kapp marched on Berlin troops went into Munich, however, Kahr had called in because the government ordered the police and army reinforcements. break up of the Freikorps. • There was a short scuffle in which the police killed 16 • Weimar government fled but the putsch Nazis. did not have support. Berlin workers went • Hitler fled, but was arrested two days later. Sent to on strike. After 4 days the government prison for 5 years but served 9 months. Trial was a6 returned. platform for his ideas to the public. KEY QUESTION 1- How successful were the Weimar government in dealing with Germany’s problems between 1919-1933? CONTENT- economic/political/foreign reform under Stresemann How successful was STRESEMANN in the 1920s in leading Germany to recovery? The economy- SUCCESSES • Called off passive resistance in Ruhr • Called in worthless marks and burnt them. new currency called the Rentenmark • Negotiated to receive American loans under the Dawes Plan, 800 million marks • Renegotiated reparations payments • By 1927 German industry seemed to have recovered well • 1928 achieved the same levels of production as before the war and became the worlds second greatest industrial power Gustav Stresemann • Wages rose. Higher standards of living Chancellor 1923 • Reparations were being paid Foreign minister 1924-29 • Exports were on the increase • Government was even able to increase welfare benefits and wages for state employees Foreign Policy -Successes • Stresemann’s greatest achievements were Politics- SUCCESSES in foreign policy • 1925 he signed the Locarno Treaties, • Became more stable guaranteeing not to change Germany’s • No attempted revolutions after 1923 western borders with France and Belgium • Parties that supported the Republic did • 1926 Germany was accepted into the LON well at elections • Stresemann began to work quietly on reversing the term of the Treaty 7 KEY QUESTION 1- How successful were the Weimar government in dealing with Germany’s problems between 1919- CONTENT1933? - economic/political/foreign reform under Stresemann How successful was STRESEMANN in the 1920s in leading Germany to recovery? You need to The economy- FAILURES • The boom was precarious, if US loans were recalled it make sure you would cause ruin • Unemployment began to rise understand what • Peasant farmers were over producing • Many small businesses became disillusioned Stresemann • Small shopkeepers saw their businesses threatened by large department stores achieved but also problems Politics- FAILURES • Both the Nazis and Communists were building up their which still party organisations • During these stable years there were still four existed Chancellors and it was only the influence of party leaders which held party coalitions together • Worryingly 30% of the vote went to parties opposed Foreign Policy -FAILURES to the Republic • Nationalists attacked Stresemann for • Right wing parties were quiet rather than destroyed signing Locarno, seeing it as an acceptance • Parties like the Nazis made themselves more of the Treaty respectable • Communists also attacked Locarno seeing it • Hindenburg was elected as President in 1926, he as a plot against the Communist opposed democracy and even wrote to the Kaiser in government in the USSR. exile for approval before taking up the post! 8 KEY QUESTION 1- How successful were the Weimar government in dealing with Germany’s problems between 1919-1933? Invasion of the Ruhr The Ruhr NEED TO PAY 1922 / 23 REPARATIONS France invaded the industrial area of the Germany called the Ruhr in + retaliation for the inability of Germany to pay the reparations in 1922 as they had missed a payment. NO MONEY TO They would seize the money in terms of goods, resources and machinery instead. PAY WITH = The Weimar Government ordered passive resistance and the German workers went on strike. This meant that the French could not gain any raw PRINT MONEY materials as payment for the reparations but also that the Germans lost a huge amount of their profits as the area did not make a goods to sell. MONEY LOSES VALUE The French killed over 100 passive resistors and expelled 100,000 protestors out of the Ruhr region. = HYPERINFLATION Hyperinflation 1919 - 23 The sudden flood of paper money into the economy combined with a weak economy ruined by the Ruhr Crisis war resulted in hyperinflation Prices ran out of control - eg a loaf of bread, which cost 250 marks in January 1923 had risen made to 200,000 million marks in November 1923. German's currency became worthless. Some people used money as fuel. People collected their wages in suitcases. Hyperinflation Pensioners on fixed incomes and people with savings were the most badly hit. One woman sold her house with the intention of using the money to live on. A few weeks later, the money wasn't even enough to buy a loaf of bread.
Recommended publications
  • Film Front Weimar: Representations of the First World War in German Films from the Weimar Period (1919-1933) Kester, Bernadette

    Film Front Weimar: Representations of the First World War in German Films from the Weimar Period (1919-1933) Kester, Bernadette

    www.ssoar.info Film Front Weimar: Representations of the First World War in German Films from the Weimar Period (1919-1933) Kester, Bernadette Veröffentlichungsversion / Published Version Monographie / monograph Zur Verfügung gestellt in Kooperation mit / provided in cooperation with: OAPEN (Open Access Publishing in European Networks) Empfohlene Zitierung / Suggested Citation: Kester, B. (2002). Film Front Weimar: Representations of the First World War in German Films from the Weimar Period (1919-1933). (Film Culture in Transition). Amsterdam: Amsterdam Univ. Press. https://nbn-resolving.org/ urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-317059 Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Dieser Text wird unter einer CC BY-NC-ND Lizenz This document is made available under a CC BY-NC-ND Licence (Namensnennung-Nicht-kommerziell-Keine Bearbeitung) zur (Attribution-Non Comercial-NoDerivatives). For more Information Verfügung gestellt. Nähere Auskünfte zu den CC-Lizenzen finden see: Sie hier: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.de * pb ‘Film Front Weimar’ 30-10-2002 14:10 Pagina 1 The Weimar Republic is widely regarded as a pre- cursor to the Nazi era and as a period in which jazz, achitecture and expressionist films all contributed to FILM FRONT WEIMAR BERNADETTE KESTER a cultural flourishing. The so-called Golden Twenties FFILMILM FILM however was also a decade in which Germany had to deal with the aftermath of the First World War. Film CULTURE CULTURE Front Weimar shows how Germany tried to reconcile IN TRANSITION IN TRANSITION the horrendous experiences of the war through the war films made between 1919 and 1933.
  • The Nobel Peace Prize

    The Nobel Peace Prize

    TITLE: Learning From Peace Makers OVERVIEW: Students examine The Dalai Lama as a Nobel Laureate and compare / contrast his contributions to the world with the contributions of other Nobel Laureates. SUBJECT AREA / GRADE LEVEL: Civics and Government 7 / 12 STATE CONTENT STANDARDS / BENCHMARKS: -Identify, research, and clarify an event, issue, problem or phenomenon of significance to society. -Gather, use, and evaluate researched information to support analysis and conclusions. OBJECTIVES: The student will demonstrate the ability to... -know and understand The Dalai Lama as an advocate for peace. -research and report the contributions of others who are recognized as advocates for peace, such as those attending the Peace Conference in Portland: Aldolfo Perez Esquivel, Robert Musil, William Schulz, Betty Williams, and Helen Caldicott. -compare and contrast the contributions of several Nobel Laureates with The Dalai Lama. MATERIALS: -Copies of biographical statements of The Dalai Lama. -List of Nobel Peace Prize winners. -Copy of The Dalai Lama's acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize. -Bulletin board for display. PRESENTATION STEPS: 1) Students read one of the brief biographies of The Dalai Lama, including his Five Point Plan for Peace in Tibet, and his acceptance speech for receiving the Nobel Prize for Peace. 2) Follow with a class discussion regarding the biography and / or the text of the acceptance speech. 3) Distribute and examine the list of Nobel Peace Prize winners. 4) Individually, or in cooperative groups, select one of the Nobel Laureates (give special consideration to those coming to the Portland Peace Conference). Research and prepare to report to the class who the person was and why he / she / they won the Nobel Prize.
  • The Beginning of the Berlin Wall Erin Honseler, Halie Mitchell, Max Schuetze, Callie Wheeler March 10, 2009

    The Beginning of the Berlin Wall Erin Honseler, Halie Mitchell, Max Schuetze, Callie Wheeler March 10, 2009

    Group 8 Final Project 1 The Beginning of the Berlin Wall Erin Honseler, Halie Mitchell, Max Schuetze, Callie Wheeler March 10, 2009 For twenty-eight years an “iron curtain” divided East and West Berlin in the heart of Germany. Many events prior to the actual construction of the Wall caused East Germany’s leader Erich Honecker to demand the Wall be built. Once the Wall was built the cultural gap between East Germany and West Germany broadened. During the time the Wall stood many people attempted to cross the border illegally without much success. This caused a very unstable relationship between the government of the West (Federal Republic of Germany) and the government of the East (German Democratic Republic). In this paper we will discuss events leading up to the construction of the Berlin Wall, the government that was responsible for the construction of the Wall, how it divided Germany, and how some people tried to escape from the East to the West. Why the Berlin Wall Was Built In order to understand why the Berlin Wall was built, we must first look at the events leading up to the actual construction of the Wall in 1961. In the Aftermath of World War II Germany was split up into four different zones; each zone was controlled by a different country. The western half was split into three different sectors: the British sector, the American sector and the French sector. The Eastern half was controlled by the Soviet Union. Eventually, the three western occupiers unified their three zones and became what is known as the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).
  • Paper 3 Weimar and Nazi Germany Revision Guide and Student Activity Book

    Paper 3 Weimar and Nazi Germany Revision Guide and Student Activity Book

    Paper 3 Weimar and Nazi Germany Revision Guide and Student Activity Book Section 1 – Weimar Republic 1919-1929 What was Germany like before and after the First World War? Before the war After the war The Germans were a proud people. The proud German army was defeated. Their Kaiser, a virtual dictator, was celebrated for his achievements. The Kaiser had abdicated (stood down). The army was probably the finest in the world German people were surviving on turnips and bread (mixed with sawdust). They had a strong economy with prospering businesses and a well-educated, well-fed A flu epidemic was sweeping the country, killing workforce. thousands of people already weakened by rations. Germany was a superpower, being ruled by a Germany declared a republic, a new government dictatorship. based around the idea of democracy. The first leader of this republic was Ebert. His job was to lead a temporary government to create a new CONSTITUTION (SET OF RULES ON HOW TO RUN A COUNTRY) Exam Practice - Give two things you can infer from Source A about how well Germany was being governed in November 1918. (4 marks) From the papers of Jan Smuts, a South African politician who visited Germany in 1918 “… mother-land of our civilisation (Germany) lies in ruins, exhausted by the most terrible struggle in history, with its peoples broke, starving, despairing, from sheer nervous exhaustion, mechanically struggling forward along the paths of anarchy (disorder with no strong authority) and war.” Inference 1: Details in the source that back this up: Inference 2: Details in the source that back this up: On the 11th November, Ebert and the new republic signed the armistice.
  • Explain Why Germans Were So Angry About the Treaty of Versailles [8] Advice

    Explain Why Germans Were So Angry About the Treaty of Versailles [8] Advice

    Explain why Germans were so angry about the Treaty of Versailles [8] Advice AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and AO2: Explain why Germans were angry understanding of the period about the Treaty An [8] mark question on the Germany paper wants you to explain the cause of Band 1 (1 Band 2 (2 Band 3 (3 Band 1 (1 Band 2 (2-3 Band 3 (4-5 something – in this case, why ordinary German people were angry at the Treaty mark) marks) marks) mark) marks) marks) of Versailles. To answer this question, you need to know: I include I include I include I give very I partially I give a very very few some of the very little explain why detailed What Germany was like before WW1 details of Treaty and detailed explanation Germans and logical Details of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles the Treaty why information of why were angry explanation What kind of peace treaty Germany expected to get and why Germans about the Germans about the of why Germans were angry Treaty and were angry Treaty Germans Why the Treaty of Versailles was so bad for Germany were angry about it why about the were angry You aim to write at least 2 P.E.E.L. paragraphs (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link). about it Germans Treaty about the were angry Treaty [8] marks means you should spend about 8 minutes on this question. about it S/A or P/A Teacher Mark and Comment: Use this space to plan your answer: /8 /8 Suggested Improvements: Include some / more details of the terms of the Treaty or how it affected German people Add / give more explanation of why Germans were angry about the Treaty Improve quality of explanation by using P.E.E.L.
  • 266900Wp0english0inclusive0e

    266900Wp0english0inclusive0e

    INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: ACHIEVING EDUCATION FOR ALL BY INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS Public Disclosure Authorized SUSAN J. PETERS, PH.D.* PREPARED FOR THE DISABILITY GROUP THE WORLD BANK April 30, 2003 Public Disclosure Authorized The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this report are entirely those of the author and should not be attributed in any manner to the World Bank, to its affiliated organizations, to members of its Board of Executive Directors, or to the countries they represent. The report has gone through an external peer review process, and the author thanks those individuals for their feedback. Public Disclosure Authorized *Susan J. Peters is an Associate Professor in the College of Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA. She has been an educator and disability scholar for the past 20 years and has published in various international journals. She is the co-author and editor of two books: Education and Disability in Cross-Cultural Perspective (NY: Garland Publishing. 1993) and Disability and Special Needs Education in an African Context (Harare: College Press. 2001). She may be contacted at [email protected] Public Disclosure Authorized TABLE OF CONTENTS INCLUSIVE EDUCAITON: ACHIEVING EDUCATION FOR ALL BY INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS Glossary of Terms Executive Summary 1 I. Introduction 9 Background II. Inclusive Education Practice: Lessons from the North 18 Background Best Practice in Canada and the United States Best Practice in Europe and other OECD Countries Special Issues: Accountability Special Issues: Parental Involvement Special Issues: Gender Summary III. Inclusive Education Practice: Lessons from the South 26 Introduction IE: The Experience of “Southern Hemisphere School System Inclusive Education Framework Challenges and Responses to IE in the South Barriers Gaps in the Literature Considerations for Future Study Zambia Honduras Vietnam India Summary IV.
  • Honecker's Policy Toward the Federal Republic and West Berlin

    Honecker's Policy Toward the Federal Republic and West Berlin

    Scholars Crossing Faculty Publications and Presentations Helms School of Government Spring 1976 Contrast and Continuity: Honecker’s Policy toward the Federal Republic and West Berlin Stephen R. Bowers Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/gov_fac_pubs Part of the Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, Political Science Commons, and the Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons Recommended Citation Bowers, Stephen R., "Contrast and Continuity: Honecker’s Policy toward the Federal Republic and West Berlin" (1976). Faculty Publications and Presentations. 86. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/gov_fac_pubs/86 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Helms School of Government at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 308 STEPHEN R. BOWERS 36. Mamatey, pp. 280-286. 37. Ibid., pp. 342-343. CONTRAST AND CONTINUITY: 38. The Letters of Theodore Roosevelt, Volume VIII (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1954), p. 1364. 39. Robert Ferrell, 'The United States and East Central Europe Before 1941," in Kertesz, op. cit., p. 22. HONECKER'S POLICY 40. Ibid., p. 24. 41. William R. Caspary, 'The 'Mood Theory': A Study of Public Opinion and Foreign Policy," American Political Science Review LXIV (June, 1970). 42. For discussion on this point see George Kennan, American Diplomacy (New York: Mentor Books, 1951); Walter Lippmann, The Public Philosophy (New York: Mentor Books, TOWARD THE FEDERAL 1955). 43. Gaddis, p. 179. 44. Martin Wei!, "Can the Blacks Do for Africa what the Jews Did for Israel?" Foreign Policy 15 (Summer, 1974), pp.
  • Germany Italy 1861 Kingdom of Italy Proclaimed Unification of Germany

    Germany Italy 1861 Kingdom of Italy Proclaimed Unification of Germany

    Germany Italy 1861 Kingdom of Italy proclaimed Unification of Germany 1871 Wilhelm II became Kaiser 1888 1911 Invasion of Libya Giolitti became prime minister (third time) 1912 Suffrage extended 1914 Declaration of neutrality Start of First World War 1915 Treaty of London with Entente Powers Declaration of war on Austria-Hungary 1916 Declaration of war on Germany 1917 Defeat at Caporetto ‘Revolution from above’ 1918 Victory at Vittorio Veneto Abdication of the Kaiser End of Italy on winning side First Fighting on Western Front Universal male suffrage World ended by armistice introduced in Italy War The Spartacist Revolt 1919 Catholic Popular Party (PPI) founded National Assembly elections Fasci di Combattimento Weimar Constitution drawn founded up Party list electoral system Ebert became president (and proportional Germany signed the representation) introduced Versailles Treaty Treaty of Saint Germain signed D’Annunzio occupied Fiume First general election under new system – Liberals and their allies lost control of the chamber The Kapp Putsch 1920 Treaty of Rapallo signed with Yugoslavia Foundation of the NSDAP Worker occupation of the Publication of the NSDAP’s 25 factories (Bienno Rosso) Point Programme Occupation of Fiume ended by force Matthias Erzberger murdered 1921 Italian Communist Party by Organisation Consul (PCI) formed National Fascist Party (PNF) founded Walter Rathenau murdered 1922 Fascist ‘March on Rome’ by Organisation Consul carried out Mussolini became prime minister French troops occupied the 1923 Acerbo Law passed
  • September 15, 1961 Letter from Ulbricht to Khrushchev on Closing the Border Around West Berlin

    September 15, 1961 Letter from Ulbricht to Khrushchev on Closing the Border Around West Berlin

    Digital Archive digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org International History Declassified September 15, 1961 Letter from Ulbricht to Khrushchev on Closing the Border Around West Berlin Citation: “Letter from Ulbricht to Khrushchev on Closing the Border Around West Berlin,” September 15, 1961, History and Public Policy Program Digital Archive, Published in CWIHP Working Paper No. 5, "Ulbricht and the Concrete 'Rose.'" Translated for CWIHP by Hope Harrison. SED Archives, IfGA, ZPA, Central Committee files, Walter Ulbricht's office, Internal Party Archive, J IV 2/202/130. http://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/116212 Summary: Ulbricht writes to Khrushchev regarding the closing of the border between east and west Berlin. Credits: This document was made possible with support from the Leon Levy Foundation. Original Language: German Contents: English Translation Letter from Ulbricht to Khrushchev, 15 September 1961. SED Archives, IfGA, ZPA, Central Committee files, Walter Ulbricht's office, Internal Party Archive, J IV 2/202/130.. Now that the first part of the task of preparing the peace treaty has been carried out, I would like to inform the CPSU CC Presidium about the situation. The implementation of the resolution on the closing of the border around West Berlin went according to plan. The tactic of gradually carrying out the measures made it more difficult for the adversary to orient himself with regard to the extent of our measures and made it easier for us to find the weak places in the border. I must say that the adversary undertook fewer counter- measures than was expected. The dispatch of 1500 American bandits would bother the West Berliners more than we do.
  • Walther Rathenau, Gustav Stresemann, Konrad Adenauer

    Walther Rathenau, Gustav Stresemann, Konrad Adenauer

    Walter Rathenau, Gustav Stresemann, Konrad Adenauer, Willy Brandt Ansprache auf der Botschafterkonferenz anlässlich der Namensgebung der Konferenzräume des Auswärtigen Amtes Berlin, 6. September 2006 Von Gregor Schöllgen Es gilt das gesprochene Wort. Herr Minister, Exzellenzen, meine Damen und Herren: Ich danke für die ehrenvolle Einladung. Und ich danke für das Vertrauen, das Sie in mich setzen: Wenn ich das richtig sehe, trauen Sie mir zu, vier herausragende Vertreter der deut- schen Außenpolitik im 20. Jahrhundert in zwanzig Minuten zu würdigen. Angemessen, versteht sich. Natürlich wissen Sie so gut wie ich, dass wir es hier mit vier Schwergewichten zu tun haben. Sonst hätten Sie sich ja auch nicht für diese Namensgebungen entschieden. Biografische Kurzportraits im vier mal Fünfminuten-Takt scheiden also aus. Stattdessen will ich fragen: Was haben die Vier gemeinsam - was unterscheidet sie? 1 * Um bei letzteren, also bei den Unterschieden, zu beginnen – weniger als man denken mag. Zum Beispiel die Ausbildung. Drei hatten studiert. Walther Rathenau hatte sich für Physik und Chemie entschieden, bezeichnenderweise begleitet von einem Studium der Philosophie; Gustav Stresemann war Nationalökonom, Konrad Adenauer Jurist. Zwei von ihnen, Rathenau und Stresemann, waren zudem promoviert. Der vierte, Willy Brandt, war weder promoviert noch examiniert, hatte nicht einmal studiert: Flucht und Exil ließen das nicht zu. Einiges spricht dafür, dass Willy Brandt diesen weißen Fleck in seiner Biografie mit seiner exessiven schriftstellerischen Tätigkeit kompensiert hat. Gewiss, er war von Hause aus Jour- nalist, und vor allem in späten Jahren kamen handfeste kommerzielle Interessen hinzu. Aber sie allein erklären seine Produktivität nicht: Weit mehr als 3.500 Veröffentlichungen aller Art sind beispiellos, jedenfalls für einen zeitlebens aktiven Politiker.
  • The Causes of Emigration: Report from a Central Committee Brigade on Security Issues (May 24, 1961)

    The Causes of Emigration: Report from a Central Committee Brigade on Security Issues (May 24, 1961)

    Volume 8. Occupation and the Emergence of Two States, 1945-1961 The Causes of Emigration: Report from a Central Committee Brigade on Security Issues (May 24, 1961) At the beginning of the 1960s, the exodus from the GDR to West Germany continued unabated. Issued a few months before the erection of the Berlin Wall, this May 1961 report by the Central Committee Brigade on Security Issues placed particular emphasis on the influence of Western contacts. The report did concede, however, that economic difficulties, bureaucratism, and arbitrariness in the granting of travel permits had a negative impact on living conditions in the GDR. Additionally, the report mentioned that Republikflucht was also motivated by a spirit of adventure and personal problems. Goal of the deployment of the brigade: Improving the public educational work of the German People’s Police in the district of Halle in connection with the fight against Republikflucht, especially among skilled workers, young people, doctors, and teachers. [ . ] The brigade worked as an independent working group in the complete brigade [Gesamtbrigade] of the Central Committee, which was under the authority of the Division for State and Legal Issues. [ . ] Causes for, reasons behind, and abetting factors in Republikflucht and recruitment methods The brigade and the German People’s Police in Halle thoroughly examined a series of flights from the republic, from the workplace to the place of residence. The process revealed a great many causes for, reasons behind, and abetting factors in Republikflucht and recruitment methods, which are closely related and work together. All cases showed the most diverse links and contact with relatives, acquaintances, and escapees in West Germany and the influence of trips and visits to the West.
  • Post-Unification Dissatisfaction

    Post-Unification Dissatisfaction

    Post-Unification Dissatisfaction Or: Why Are So Many East Germans Unhappy with the New Political System? revised version, April 1998 by Helmut Wiesenthal I Introduction Among the people of former communist countries, the East Germans appear extremely privileged. Through its unification with the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) the implementation of a pluralist democratic system and the market economy was smooth and safeguarded in many ways. First, East Germany benefits from the FRG‟s well-proven institutional system that immediately took effect during the second half of 1990. The citizens of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) did not have to create a complete system of legal institutions, administrative agencies and representational bodies of their own. The framework of market economy, the organisations of territorial administration and local self-government, civil and commercial law, penal and public law, the social security system, antitrust and collective bargaining law, as well as the instruments of labor administration and industrial policy--none of these had to be invented in East Germany. Second, one need only recall the extraordinary advantage of large financial transfers without any obligation of repayment. Annual net transfers in the order of 160 billion marks have effected a rapid improvement of the public infrastructure, as do they back up the social insurance system. Thanks to massive financial aid, the impact of the transition crisis that burdens peoples of all other post-socialist countries is significantly reduced in East Germany. Third, being subjected to the political system--and the political elite--of West Germany, East Germany‟s process of transition is obviously the least likely to be endangered by the uncertainties and exigencies of a premature party and governance system, inconsistent concepts of reform, the bundle of socialist legacies of values and habits, or insufficient financial resources.